Lee Westwood

I never thought I'd say this but I think I'm starting to like Lee Westwood. Apparently, with his game in disrepair in the last few years, he decided to fire his entourage of swing coach, psychologist, personal assistant, etc. and just started working out and playing golf for fun like he used to when he was younger. Lo and behold, he's lost a lot of weight (and consequently looks less like a spoiled, buck-toothed fancy-lad from the Olde Country) and is playing competitively at world-class golf tournaments. Another breath of fresh air. I'd love to be a fly on the wall if he and Boo Weekley ever got paired up at a Ryder Cup.

Boo Weekley

How can you not like Boo Weekley? This guy is true-blue, a real person (not a robot with an entourage at his side) who plays the game of golf we all know and love and does it with his own personal style. He's laid back and cool, a real breath of fresh air on today's PGA Tour. He even had his mother as his pro-am partner at his return to the Heritage Classic this week, returning as defending champion no less. And it looks good for his chances of defending that title--I hope he does it, too. The PGA Tour needs more guys like Boo Weekley, camouflage pants and all.

Snow During The Masters?

Yes, its been snowing here in Minnesota as I watch a tradition unlike any other, the Masters on CBS. Sad but true--I'm usually playing my own brand of golf by now then settling into my favorite spot on the couch to watch that glorious golf tournament on TV well into the evening. The manager at my golf club told me today that he can't remember the last time we'd gone this far into April without opening for play. Global warming, eh? It's been at least 20 years, he said, since we've been this late taking it to the course. I guess I've waited almost five months now to play so what's another week? Here's the rub, though--my wife is due to give birth to our second child in four weeks so I've really got to get after it before she does because I'd be a fool to think I'll be playing anywhere near my usual two rounds a week after number two comes along. At least number one is getting old enough where she wants to go to the golf course with daddy. Looks like a long summer of chipping and putting with the little one, if you ask me.

A Squirrel at the Masters

As I was watching the many, many hours of Masters pre-tournament coverage the last couple of days I noticed that the Golf Channel kept using the same moving picture of the Augusta National clubhouse as they would head to commercial. I noticed this because I kept seeing a squirrel run across one of the branches of the big oak tree in front of said clubhouse and wondered after the first few times "How many squirrels do they have in Georgia?" Then it donned on me that they must keep replaying the same footage. Within minutes I came to this stunning realization--I could spend the rest of my life trying to get inside the hallowed gates of Augusta National to witness the greatest sporting event in the world and quite possibly never succeed. If I were a squirrel, though, I could just walk right down Magnolia Lane and no one would even bat an eye. Interesting, huh? I've never wanted to be a squirrel before--I guess there's a first time for everything.